A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are…A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are…

And it is not otherwise to be hoped, but that men should everywhere more & more wax Heathen like, of whom we see few free from this sacrilege. Howbeit, I add another cause to these causes above said: namely, that they are malicious and wrongful judges, whom the vices of men do drive from the Gospel. They say how divers do behave themselves neither godly nor honestly, which glory in the Gospel. ⟨p. 79⟩But this question should have been demanded of them first, whither the Gospel changed them to the worse? He that was a whoremonger (say they) or a dicer, or otherwise dissolute of living, is the same man he was still at this day. Verily the vices which in Papistry they bear with, they begin to detest so suddenly, that for hatred of them they abhor the very doctrine of holiness and innocency. I fear not, that they which by their filthy & wicked life, do dishonour the Gospel, should think me to be their patron. And therefore (I suppose) I shall have the more liberty to rebuke them, that impute all the corruptness of the Papacy to the Gospel. If there be any holiness there, the Monks, by consent of them all, do challenge it to them without all controversy. And why should they not? when in their Cloisters is resident an angelical perfection? But for all that, we have not from any other place a more filthy puddle of all vices. If any man will reply, that since from thence only come impostumes, it is no marvel if they send forth their stink wheresoever they become: ⟨image 91⟩it is an easy matter for me to wash away such a frivolous slander. For first and formest if any goodness were there, it is most certain, that by the wonderful providence of God it was brought out, as gold should be brought out of a dunghill. What Monks had Germany in our age, that either in doctrine or holiness, may be bold to compare themselves with Luther, Bucer, Oecolampadius and such like, onlesse they do it without all respect of shame? whom shall the Italians set against Bernardine Ochine, or Peter Vermill? Also out of the Cloisters of France there issued divers, who with their brightness might have shadowed many reproaches and shames of their order. I confess there were but few that turned from their Monkery unto us, who are worthy to be named for honours sake. And what wonder is it though many Angels come not out of Hell.

And it is not otherwise to be hoped, but that mē should euerywhere more & more waxe Heathen like, of whome we sée fewe frée from this sacriledge. Howbeit, I adde another cause to these causes aboue sayd: namely, that they are malicious and wrongefull iudges, whome the vices of men doo driue from the Gospell. They say howe diuers doo behaue themselues neither godly nor honestly, whiche glory in the Gospell.